Israel and the occupied territory: ICRC helps health-care providers

16-11-2012 Operational Update

The ICRC is concerned about civilians who are directly affected by the ongoing hostilities between Gaza and Israel. The organization is monitoring the situation closely and is in regular contact with both Israeli and Gazan authorities.

"Despite difficult security conditions, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Magen David Adom in Israel are working round the clock to treat casualties and evacuate them to hospitals," reported Juan-Pedro Schaerer, who heads the ICRC delegation in Israel and the occupied territories. "The ICRC is helping the Gazan ministry of health and our partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement take care of the wounded."

The ICRC is closely coordinating its efforts with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Magen David Adom in Israel and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in order to help people affected by the violence.

Over the past two days, the ICRC:

supplied medicines, disposables, infusions and dressing materials to the Gazan ministry of health, which then delivered them to hospitals;

provided dressing materials for the ambulances that operate in the Gaza Strip;

has been facilitating the entry of 10 lorry loads of medicines and disposables, which will be available for distribution in the next few days;

has started collecting information on houses damaged in Gaza during the operation with a view to distributing emergency supplies such as food, kitchen utensils, blankets, hygiene requisites and tents over the next few days to the families affected.